Morning Briefing: Texans oppose oil company

In this photo released by the White House, President Barack Obama is briefed on the events in Egypt by his national security team meeting in the Situation Room of the White House in Washington on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Thousands of protesters in Egypt have thrown the country’s 30-year-old regime into tumult.

Welcome to the Texas on the Potomac morning briefing. Every morning, we offer Texas links, “Potomac” links for Washington stories and a sampling of the best Texas political blogs. Check back with us at midday and the end of the afternoon for more news links.

Texas Links

Rarely have Texans met an oil facility it didn’t like, until now. The Canadian plan to barrel oil from Alberta down to East Texas has landowners and environmentalists in opposition. Austin American-Statesman>>>

Along the border, residents of Juárez and El Paso protested the drug war, asked that equal rights be given to immigrants in the U.S and cried out for justice at the binational Peace and Justice Without Borders protest. El Paso Times>>>

Some Texas lawmakers struggling to get the state’s budget out of the red want to turn to something blue for help. Blue, as in blue laws, that for decades have prohibited the sale of hard liquor on Sundays. Fort Worth Star-Telegram>>>

Potomac Links

The Obama administration aligns itself with protests in Egypt by calling for an ‘orderly transition’ to a more representative government while demonstrations turn violent and could spread across the Arab world. The Washington Post>>>

A big tobacco case that involves dozens of local hospitals, the nation’s biggest tobacco companies and 12 years’ worth of filings that fill 43 boxes is set to start. New York Times>>>

N.Y. Sen. Charles Schumer says he wants the federal government to ban new designer drugs known as bath salts that pack as much punch as cocaine or methamphetamines. The Washington Post>>>

In a city as large as Austin, it is surprising that there are no city council districts, but that may soon change. Off the Kuff>>>

State Sen. Dan Patrick refutes the idea that there is a behind the scenes fight between the Tea Party and social conservatives. Texas Monthly>>>

Mayor Parker and Jolanda Jones are partnering with the HOPE employees to go to the mattresses with the Houston firefighters and absorb the Houston firefighter’s pension plan into the Houston Municipal Employee Pension System plan. Big Jolly Politics>>>

Speaker Joe Straus may have a hard time filling the slots on House Appropriations, when there is a lot of pressure to send bills to the House floor and no money in it. Texas Monthly>>>

Today in Texas History

Jan. 31: On this date in 1927, the mockingbird was named Texas’ official state bird.